David Slagger (born June 22, 1962) is a Maliseet politician in Maine. Slagger served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing the newly recognized Maliseet Tribe. Slagger was sworn-in as the appointed representative to the House of Representatives on January 4, 2012. He held the seat temporarily until a tribal election could be conducted to elect a Maliseet Tribal Representative, which the Maliseet Tribe then did on December 22, 2012 when tribal members elected Henry John Bear as their first elected Tribal Representative to the Maine House of Representatives. Slagger did not seek another term as Maliseet representative.
David Slagger | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office January 4, 2012 – December 2012 | |
| Succeeded by | Henry John Bear |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 22, 1962 Bangor, Maine |
| Political party | Unenrolled |
| Spouse | Wilhilmina Slagger |
| Residence | Sangerville, Maine |
| Alma mater | University of Maine |
| Profession | Public Relations |
Slagger was one of three non-voting representatives from Maine's Native American tribes in the House of Representatives. Representatives from each tribe are all elected by tribal members.[1]
Slagger did not seek another term as the Maliseet representative due to the limitations placed on tribal representatives, including the inability to vote and sponsor bills without co-sponsors. Slagger was humiliated when, during a tie vote in the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee on which he sat, Slagger's deciding vote was recorded but cast aside by the committee chair. In May 2012, Slagger announced a bid for the non-tribal seat in which he lived, District 22.[2] Still running as a non-party (independent) candidate, he challenged incumbent Republican incumbent Stacy Guerin with no Democrat in the race. He received 1,299 votes (26%) and lost.[3]
Gubernatorial campaign
editIn February 2013, Slagger formed a campaign committee to run for Governor of Maine in 2014 as a Democrat.[4] In April, Slagger enrolled as a Green Independent and began seeking the Maine Green Independent Party's nomination.[5] Shortly thereafter, Slagger unenrolled as a Green Independent and continued his run as an unenrolled candidate for Governor.[6] Slagger did not qualify for the November 2014 ballot as an independent.
Personal
editSlagger grew up in Aroostook County, Maine[7] and lives in Kenduskeag in Penobscot County with his wife (a Mi'kmaq) and their three children.[1] In September 2005, Slagger, a non-traditional undergraduate at the University of Maine, was awarded an internship at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.[7] At the time of his swearing-in in 2012, Slagger was a doctoral candidate at the University of Maine.
References
edit- ^ a b Adams, Glenn (January 4, 2012). "Maine's first Maliseet legislator to be sworn in Wednesday". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ Lynds, Jen (May 28, 2012). "Maliseet representative to step down, run for House District 22 seat". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections Division". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Stone, Matthew. "Former Maliseet rep takes 1st step toward gubernatorial bid – Capitol Incite - BDN Maine Blogs". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ Stone, Matthew (April 26, 2013). "Chellie Pingree announces she won't run for governor in 2014". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ "Maine Campaign Finance". Retrieved 25 October 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "UMaine student lands internship American Indian museum run by Smithsonian welcomes Micmac". Bangor Daily News. p. W1. Retrieved 14 April 2013.